Orchard Lake Dam
Orchard Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, New York, built in 1870. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Orchard Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Orchard Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Theodore Roosevelt Council Boy Scouts Of America (private). It impounds the Sprague Brook near Grooville.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 116 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 220 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/09/2023.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Grooville |
| River/Stream | Sprague Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.95528, -74.75972 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 116 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 480 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | THEODORE ROOSEVELT COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00667 |
| Federal ID | NY00667 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |